Long-time “boring” civil servant tapped to play Phil Banks, Adams’ scandal-ridden friend

Mayor Eric Adams announced his pick for the city public safety role vacated by his scandal-plagued friend Phil Banks on Tuesday, with sources hailing the replacement as a welcome “boring” alternative.

Chauncey Parker, who has worked in law enforcement for nearly 40 years, will take over as deputy mayor for the public safety post left vacant after Banks resigned under a cloud of federal scrutiny.

Parker’s appointment recently prompted a rare show of praise for Adams amid his criminal indictment and corruption probes surrounding friends he installed in high-level roles.

“If the mayor had appointed all these boring people to begin with, he might not be indicted,” a Council source told The Post.

Banks was already somewhat infamous when Adams tapped him in 2022 to serve as deputy mayor for public safety, a position that no New York mayor had used since David Dinkins in the 1990s.

The former NYPD official was an unindicted co-conspirator in a police bribery scandal, giving photos of Banks floating in the Dead Sea as evidence in a federal trial.

Banks also needed a special exemption to collect his police pension and $250,000 salary for City Hall work.

As deputy mayor, Banks continued the court controversy.

First NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell of Adams resigned because of frustrations with Banks and his allies interfering with the police department, sources said.

But Banks’ decades-long friendship with Adams kept him isolated, at least until federal agents knocked on his door on Sept. 4 and seized his electronic devices in what sources have said is an investigation of corruption

After weeks of pressure to resign, a period that saw several other senior officials caught up in the feds’ web do so, including Banks’ brother, Schools Chancellor David Banks, Banks finally submitted his papers on October 6

The position was one of at least 10 high-level posts in the Adams administration without a permanent head amid a wave of departures as the feds turned up the heat on City Hall.

But some experts have questioned whether the Big Apple even needs a deputy mayor for public safety, given that the city already has a police commissioner.

“Definitely a job that can be eliminated!” Former councilman Sal Albanese wrote to X. “DM for public safety, no real need!”

Even with doubts about the need for the role, Parker’s promotion was warmly welcomed.

Parker, a Duke University Law School graduate who served as an executive assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office, among many other roles, had served as Banks’ assistant deputy mayor.

Two sources who worked with Parker for years called him the smartest person in the Adams administration.

One described Parker as always carrying a brown bag for lunch, even though it comes from money.

“They don’t make civil servants like that anymore,” the source said. “He really cares about the community.”

A former NYPD executive who worked with Parker called him honorable and an excellent choice.

“I would dare anyone to say anything bad about him,” the executive said.

“He worked with Phil Banks and Banks had respect for him. He’s a very smart and trustworthy guy. He didn’t get involved in any of the nonsense with Adams and Banks.”

Another Council source said Parker was a consummate professional who worked for both Democrats and Republicans.

“He’s one of the good ones,” the source said.

Adams, during his weekly news conference Tuesday, said he fielded nine requests from people outside the City Council to fill Banks’ position.

He said Parker was the best person for the job.

“I’ve taken a different approach to public safety in the city, and we include all aspects of it, and Chauncey has already played a big role in bringing federal, state and local law enforcement agencies together,” he said.

Parker also emphasized the importance of collaboration.

“In my nearly 40 years working in criminal justice, I think the most important thing I’ve learned is, what is your North Star?” he said “And this is a power of partnership, as we are always much stronger and better when we work together.”

The mayor, however, gave no indication as to when he would tap a permanent NYPD commissioner, an appointment sources said last week was imminent.

He stated that 22 people have expressed interest in the position, and also that interim commissioner Tom Donlon is “full-time,” although he is serving on an interim basis.

“When people are on the job, they should be doing the job, and that’s what they’re doing, and that’s what I expect,” Adams said. “And if there’s any change, we’re going to step up to that podium and make an announcement.”